Driving Differences: Cuba vs. Malaysia Explained
Cuba and Malaysia present intriguing contrasts in their roadway regulations and driving customs. While Cuba favors right-side driving and a more lenient stance on overtaking, Malaysia enforces left-side traffic and dedicated bus lanes. Understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use the rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Rare | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cuba:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cuba:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
cuba:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
malaysia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cuba:
No
malaysia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cuba:
N/A
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cuba:
N/A
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cuba:
Rare
malaysia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
malaysia:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
malaysia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cuba:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-70 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; enforced by traffic police | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
cuba:
40-50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cuba:
30-40 km/h
malaysia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
60-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cuba:
60-80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cuba:
50-70 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cuba:
90-100 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cuba:
90-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cuba:
N/A
malaysia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
cuba:
Rare
malaysia:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
malaysia:
Yes
Signals
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cuba | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cuba:
Triangular with red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by area, check for local signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cuba:
Annual inspection required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
malaysia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cuba:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
cuba:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cuba:
0.02%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
cuba:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 106 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 106 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies by provider; national lines may apply | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
cuba:
106
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
cuba:
106
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Cuba | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fine equivalent varies, local currency | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually paid directly to officers | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay